Applications can be made to the fire service until midnight on Wednesday (8 March).

The fire service state: “If you are looking for a job with variety, a challenge and good career progression, we are currently recruiting firefighters. It is essential that you have a minimum of three GCSE’s including English language and maths at Grade A – C, or equivalent.

“You must be able to deal calmly and professionally with people in distress and emergencies like fires, road traffic collisions, chemical spills and floods, working alongside other emergency services and your colleagues as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

“In addition, you must be able to communicate clearly and be capable of delivering community safety messages to local groups and also be able to support vulnerable people with different needs who live in the community.”

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service crews get their sponges out Pic: Nick Ingham

What are the steps?

First you have to fill in the online application form.

If you get through this you’ll be invited to a bleep test and further online assessments, which take place between 24 March to 30 March.

A Practical Assessment Day is the next step which is from 10 April to 13 April – you will need to be physically fit!

If you make it through this there’s an interview and presentation to do between 24 April and 5 May.

A medical assessment then takes place from 10 May to 17 May, and finally a measuring for uniform in late May.